Golf | U.S. Open: Kaymer leads after opening 65

Thursday

Jun 12, 2014 at 12:01 AMJun 13, 2014 at 1:24 AM

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Much to his delight, Martin Kaymer discovered that Pinehurst No.2 was even more different than he imagined in the U.S. Open. This wasn't the beast of a course that Kaymer and so many other players were expecting. This was a day for scoring.

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Much to his delight, Martin Kaymer discovered that Pinehurst No.2 was even more different than he imagined in the U.S. Open.

This wasn't the beast of a course that Kaymer and so many other players were expecting.

This was a day for scoring.

Kaymer made six birdies this afternoon, three on the final five holes, that sent the 29-year-old German to the lowest score in three Opens held at Pinehurst No.2. He made a 6-foot par putt on the 18th hole for a 5-under-par 65 and a three-shot lead.

"It was more playable than I thought," he said. "I think that made a big difference mentally, that you feel like there are actually some birdies out there, not only bogeys."

So much was made of the new look at No.2, which was restored to its old look from more than a half-century ago. There also was plenty of talk that this U.S. Open would be as tough as any U.S. Open.

When he finished his final day of practice yesterday under a broiling sun, Kaymer was asked what it would take to win.

"I said plus 8 because the way the golf course played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday," he said. "But obviously, they softened the conditions a little bit so it was more playable. So hopefully, I'm not right with the plus 8. I would be disappointed."

Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell took the conservative route on his way to a 68 that featured 15 pars, one bogey, one birdie and one eagle. He was joined by Kevin Na, Brendon de Jonge and Fran Quinn, a 49-year-old who last played a U.S. Open in 1996, when Tiger Woods was still an amateur.

"This was a golf course where I spent the last few days just preparing myself mentally for the challenge, really, knowing that this golf course wasn't going to give much and it was only going to take," McDowell said. "I'm assuming they put some water on this place this morning. And we were able to take advantage of that a little bit early on and actually think about getting at some of those flags."

Brandt Snedeker, who had a chance at 30 on his front nine, had to settle for being part of a large group at 69 that included 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar and Dustin Johnson.